I doubt he retires with them unless because of injury. Not many quarterbacks stay with the team, because quarterbacks stay in the game too long. The team has plans for the future and most quarterbacks (i.e. Favre) stay past their prime. Montana was never the same in KC, and there's many examples I could think of. Warren Moon in Houston, etc.

He will resign no matter what. Pittsburg loves him, and if he leaves they will not be happy. Unhappy fans = less mula. So they will pay him whatever he wants, even if they have a tough time deciding, cause if the lose Big Ben, then they lose money

The guy was drafted to be the franchise Qb and he has had great success in Pittsburgh. It's extremely rare for a player of his caliber to sign else where after his rookie contract is up. He'll most likely sign one of those 10 year, $100 million contracts when his rookie contract expires.

The only reason a QB of his caliber would hit free agency is because of a shoulder injury (Brees, Culpepper) or age.

The days of letting go of guys like Woodson and Kevin Greene are over. I can't even remember the last pro-bowl player the Steelers have let hit free agency. The Randle Els and the Chris Hopes can leave -- they are not special and the Steelers didn't have the space to re-sign them -- but the Roethlisbergers will be locked up.